James p



(No Model.)

J. P. MUNSIB. BINDING PDST.

No. 426,204. l PatentedApr.22,1890.l

lli

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEiOE..

JAMES E. MoNsIE, or BROOKLYN, AssieNoE. rro THOMAS L. OOLES, or newYORK, N. Y.

BINDING-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,204, dated April22, 1890.

Application iiled January 17, 1890. Serial lilo` 337,248. (No model.)

T all whom t may concern;

Be it known that I, JAMES F. MUNSIE, a British subject, residing atBrooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful lmprovelnents in DistributingBinding-Posts for Electrical Conductors; and l do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enio able others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use Vthe same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements indistributing binding-posts for electrical conductors, and is designed toprovide a simple, compact, and inexpensive device `from which theprincipal or main current from any suitable electric source may bedistributed to lamps or other translating devices along the line, andwhich zo will also serve as an attachment-point for dead wires or wirestemporarily out ot service.

In the accompanying` drawings, illustrative of my invention, Figurelrepresents a top 2 5 view of one of the screw-plugs employed inconnection with my invention. Fig. 2 represents the complete device inplan. Fiom 3 represents the same in vertical central section and partialelevation, and Fig. 4i represents a section on the line 4 a of Fig. 3.

Similar numerals ot reference indicate similar parts throughouttheseveral views.

The distributing device consists, primarily, of a metallic base or mainbody portion having iianges +1. 5, whereby it may be convenientlyattached by screws or the like to a suitable support at the pointfromwhich the distribution is to be made. This main body portion consists ofan outer shell G and an 4o inner core 7, adapted to be screwed down intothe same upon the line-wire 8, so as to make good electrical contacttherewith. To secure this result the sides of the shell 6 are recessedor cut away, as shown at il 10, so as to permit the line-wire to beinserted within said recesses. The core 7 is then Screwed down upon theline-wire by means ot a Spanner-wrench, whose pin projections enter theholes 1l of the core 7,

5o The core 7 is internally screw-threaded,as

shown, for the recept-ion of the screw-threaded stem l2 of thescrew-plug 13. Surrounding said stem loosely are the metallic washers lal5, adapted to receive between them one of the distributing-wires, as1G, leading to an 55 electric-lightor other translating device. Thepresence ot these washers lessen the liability ot the wire 1G toabrasion when the plug 13 is screwed down, and also distributes andequalizes the clamping-pressure upon the 6c wire when the screw-threadjoint becomes worn.

The distributing-wire 17 is brought into electrical connection with thebase and consequently with the line-wire S by means similar to thosedescribed, the metallic screwplug 1S corresponding in construction andoperation to the metallic screw-plug 13, and the metallic washers 19 2Oto the metallic washers 1i 15. In like manner additional 7o screw-plugsand washers may be superimposed one upon the other, according to theexigencies of the use Ifor which the distributing device is to beemployed. In all instances, however, it will be preferable to form theoutermost hollow screw-plug 21 (for lche distributing-wire 22) of hardrubber, vulcanite, or similar insulating material, so that the cap-screw23, which is to be made, preferably, of like insulating material, mayserve 8o to clamp in place such dead wires, as 24, as are temporarilynot in use. The washers 25 26 for the conductor 22 are of course ofmetal.

For purposes of convenience andV safety I provide the metallicscrew-plugs 13 1S, and 85 also the base portion of the distributingdevice, with a coating or covering of insulating' material, as indicatedmore clearly in Fig. 3. The tops of the screw-plugs are provided with across-slot 27, as shown in Fig. 1, for 9o engagement with ascrew-driver, should itbe found necessary to employ one.

The operation of the device will be readily apparent from thedescription hereinbefore given of the arrangement and construction otparts. By loosening up or unscrewing either of the plugs 13, 1S, or 21the corresponding distributing-wire may be detached, thereby breakingits electrical connection with the line-wire, and the detached wire maythen roo for convenience be clamped to the device by the insulatingcap-screw 23 until again desired for use.

The entire device will be found of especial utility indistributing-stations and in buildings where it is important toeconomize space and to secure a compact and orderly arrangement of thecircuits.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A distributing device for electrical conductors consisting, of a baseof conducting material adapted to be connected to the linewire, and aseries of screw-plugs of conducting material fitting one within theother and adapted to clamp distributing-wires between them,substantially as described.

2. A distributing device for electrical conductors, consisting of a baseot conducting material adapted to be connected to the linewire, and aseries of screw-plugs of conducting material fitting one within theother and adapted to clamp distributing-wires between them, an outerscrew-plug of insulating material, and a cap-screw for clamping deadwires to said insulating screw-plug, substantially as described.

3. A distributing device for electrical conductors, consisting of a baseof conducting material adapted to be connected to the linewire, and aseries of screw-plugs of conducting material tting one within the otherand adapted to clamp distributingwires between them, and metallicwashers located between the screw-plugs, substantially as described.

4. A distributing device for electrical conductors, consisting of a baseformed of' an outer shell recessed for the passage of the line-Wire, andan inner core screwing down upon` said line-wire and a series ofscrewplugs of conducting material fitting one within the other andadapted to clamp distributing-Wires between them', substantially asdescribed.

5. A distributing device for electrical conductors, consisting of a baseof conducting material adapted to be connected to the linewire, and aseries of screw-plugsof conducting material iitting one within the otherand adapted to clamp distributing-wires between them, an outerscrew-plug of insulating material, and a cap-screw for clamping deadwires to said insulating screw-plug, the base and metallic screw-plugshaving aprotective insulatingcovering, substantially as described.

G. A compound binding-post provided with conductingconnections for livewires and an insulating-connection for dead wires, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.f

JAMES F. MUNsIE.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. PENNIE, H. B., ZEvELY.

